Results for: Artemis Program

SpaceX’s Starship rocket is poised for its fourth test flight as early as June, according to Elon Musk. The upcoming flight will mark a significant milestone in the development of the world’s most powerful rocket. The Starship has undergone three test flights to date, with varying degrees of success. The third flight, conducted in March, was the most successful, achieving many of the mission goals. SpaceX is awaiting a launch permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before proceeding with the fourth flight. The Starship is intended to play a crucial role in NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to transport crew and cargo to the moon. The rocket is also being considered for future missions to Mars. The FAA is currently conducting an environmental review for proposed Starship launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which would provide SpaceX with an additional launch location.

A recent report highlights concerns about the heat shield of NASA’s Orion capsule, intended for future moon missions with astronauts. During the Artemis I uncrewed flight, the shield experienced more wear than expected, raising safety concerns. NASA is addressing the issue through potential modifications or reentry trajectory adjustments. The launch date for Artemis II has been postponed to September 2025 to accommodate additional testing and safety measures.

China has set its sights on becoming the second country to send humans to the Moon, aiming to achieve this historic feat by the end of this decade. This ambitious plan would mark a significant milestone in China’s rapidly expanding space program, bringing it on par with the United States in terms of lunar exploration. The mission will involve landing two taikonauts on the lunar surface for approximately six hours before returning to the lunar orbiter, where a third colleague will be waiting to commence the journey back to Earth.

Indian students from the New Delhi area and Mumbai have emerged victorious in NASA’s annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC). The KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR, won the ‘Crash and Burn’ category, while the Kanakia International School from Mumbai bagged the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award.